A Comparative Analysis of Transpiration and Bare Soil Evaporation

Transpiration E^v and bare soil evaporation E^b processes are comparatively analysed assuming homogeneous and inhomogeneous areal distributions of volumetric soil moisture content . For a homogeneous areal distribution of we use a deterministic model, while for inhomogeneous distributions a statistical-deterministic diagnostic surface energy balance model is applied. The areal variations of are simulated by Monte-Carlo runs assuming normal distributions of .The numerical experiments are performed for loam. In the experiments we used different parameterizations for vegetation and bare soil surface resistances and strong atmospheric forcing. According to the results theE^v()-^Eb() differences are great, especially in dry conditions. In spite of this, the available energy flux curves of vegetation A^v() and bare soil A^b() surfaces differ much less than the E^v() and ^Eb() curves. The results suggest that E^v is much more non-linearly related to environmental conditions than ^Eb. Both E^v and ^Eb depend on the distribution of , the wetness regime and the parameterization used. With the parameterizations, ^Eb showed greater variations than E^v. These results are valid when there are no advective effects or mesoscale circulation patterns and the stratification is unstable.     

Phytoplankton composition and dynamics in three shallow temporary salt lakes (Monegros, Spain)

The present study deals with phytoplankton composition and dynamics of three ephemeral saline lakes (La Muerte, Piñol and Sulfúrica) situated in one of the most arid inland zone in Europe (Los Monegros). The lakes show marked differences among one another, although they are all temporary, shallow and saline systems (>30 g l⁻¹). La Muerte is dominated by microbial mats that are absent from the other two. Piñol is more exposed to strong winds than the other two lakes and exhibits higher turbidity. Sulfúrica appears to be the most extreme system, with the highest salinity, which leads to a complete absence of macrozooplankton. Phytoplankton composition in these lakes varies as a consequence of the different physico-chemical conditions; it is fundamentally composed of typical hypersaline species such as Dunaliella sp., Aphanothece sp., and soil benthic species (e.g. Hantzschia amphyoxis) that appear to play an important role in these systems. Comparative analysis of the microbial component (phytoplankton diversity and temporal evolution) under in situ conditions and the presence of various abiotic and biotic factors, including the impact of macrozooplankton grazing, shows that it is easy to overlook large differences in the community structure of apparently similar ecosystems. The present study is a contribution to the understanding of the often-neglected microbial ecology of ephemeral shallow lakes.     

A record of pre-Variscan Barrovian regional metamorphism in the eastern part of the Slavonian Mountains (NE Croatia)

Summary Petrological investigations and monazite dating are carried out on medium-grade metamorphic rocks (micaschist, gneiss and amphibolite) from the Kutjevačka Rijeka transect in the Slavonian Mts., Tisia Unit (NE Croatia). Field, mesoscopic and microstructural observations, as well as the preserved mineral chemistry, point to a single metamorphic event during peak assemblage growth reaching amphibolite facies conditions of ca. 600–650 °C and 8–11 kbar. Th, U and Pb contents of yttrium-rich accessory monazites indicate a pre-Variscan, i.e. Ordovician-Silurian age (444 ± 19 and 428 ± 25 Ma) for the medium-grade metamorphism of garnet-bearing micaschist.     

Petrology of a new basalt occurrence in Hungary

Summary A new occurrence of basalt (minimum K/Ar age 57.9 ± 2.2 m.y.) is reported from Budaliget, near Budapest. Major and minor element concentrations show that the basalts are alkaline and potassic in nature ranging from olivine tholeiite to moderately undersaturated basanite. High mg-values and concentrations of Ni and Cr indicate that some of the samples may represent primary compositions. High pressure accidental xenoliths, xenocrysts and cognate megacrysts are frequent and the chemical zoning patterns of olivine and pyroxene phenocrysts indicate a complex evolution and polibaric conditions for the crystallization. The discovery of the new basalt occurrence is important from a geodynamical point of view: prior to the last two major geodynamical events (Plio-Pleistocene rifting with associated alkali basaltic volcanism and collision of microplates with associated Miocene calk-alkaline volcanism) the continental lithosphere below NE Transdanubia may have experienced another rifting period in the Paleocene or Upper Cretaceous.With 7 Figures     

FRACTURES AS CONDUCTING DYKES AND CORRESPONDING TWO-DIMENSIONAL MODELS*

A statistical treatment of MT data from the Pannonian Basin, Hungary, based on the distortion theory of the S-effect suggests that the local increase in crustal conductivity is connected with deep fractures. Field model measurements have recently been carried out in a shallow, quasi two-dimensional basin of well known tectonics using MT station distances of 1–3 km. The results of the investigation and numerical modelling of near surface distortions, support the idea that deep fractures (faults) contain the conducting formations. According to 2-D model computations, several conducting dykes at considerable depths can cause anomalies which are indiscernible from an anomaly due to a conducting layer. The significance of these results is discussed from the point of view of geothermal energy exploitation.     

Remarks on the one-photon-pair annihilation in strong magnetic fields

We report specifically on a quantum electrodynamic feature of the one-photon-pair annihilation. Most of the calculation related with this process (not excluding other ones) have been carried out usually utilizing the wave functions obtained from the Dirac equation in the Landau gauge A = (0,Bx, 0), where B is oriented along the z-axis (Johnson and Lippman, 1949). Although, the eigenstates of the Dirac Hamiltonian as it was introduced by Johnson and Lippman, do not consider the coupling to the radiation field and consequently they reflect only forp _z = 0 the same linear combination of the two degenerate polarization states.We report the transition rate function for the one-photon-pair annihilation in a strong magnetic field by using the Sokolov and Ternov eigenstate |± as far asp _z = 0 andN > 0 is concerned. The difference between the expression for the transition rate by using the Sokolov and Ternov eigenstates and the one calculated by (Wunneret al., 1986), is just the functionI _s,s which corresponds to the degeneracy of the orbit center of the electrons characterized by the quantum numberss ands. Presented at the 2nd UN/ESA Workshop, held in Bogotá, Colombia, 9-13 November, 1992.     

Variations in the dynamic response of structures founded on piles induced by obliquely incident SV waves

Although the seismic actions generally consist of a combination of waves, which propagates with an angle of incidence not necessarily vertical, the common practice when analyzing the dynamic behavior of pile groups is based on the assumption of vertically incident wave fields. The aim of this paper is to analyze how the angle of incidence of SV waves affects the dynamic response of pile foundations and piled structures. A three-dimensional boundary element-finite element coupling formulation is used to compute impedances and kinematic interaction factors corresponding to several configurations of vertical pile groups embedded in an isotropic homogeneous linear viscoelastic half-space. These results, which are provided in ready-to-use dimensionless graphs, are used to determine the effective dynamic properties of an equivalent single-degree-of-freedom oscillator that reproduces, within the range where the peak response occurs, the response of slender and nonslender superstructures through a procedure based on a substructuring model. Results are expressed in terms of effective flexible-base period and damping as well as maximum shear force at the base of the structure. The relevance and main trends observed in the influence of the wavefront angle of incidence on the dynamic behavior of the superstructure are inferred from the presented results. It is found that effective damping is significantly affected by the variations of the wave angle of incidence. Furthermore, it comes out that the vertical incidence is not always the worst-case scenario.     

Characterization of humic substances in salt marsh soils under sea rush (Juncus maritimus)

Humic substances (HS) from salt marsh soils were characterized and the relationships among HS composition and some geochemical factors were analysed. For this, three salt marshes with the same vegetation cover (Juncus maritimus), but with different geochemical characteristics, were selected. The qualitative characterization of the soil humic acids and fulvic acids was carried out by elemental analysis, FTIR spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and VACP/MAS ¹³C NMR spectroscopy.HS from salt marsh soils under sea rush (Juncus maritimus) displayed some shared characteristics such as low degree of humification, low aromatic content and high proportion of labile compounds, mainly polysaccharides and proteins. However, although the three salt marsh soils under study were covered by the same type of vegetation, the HS showed some important differences. HS composition was found to be determined not only by the nature of the original organic material, but also by environmental factors such as soil texture, redox conditions and tidal influence. In general, an increase in the humification process appeared to be related to aerobic conditions and predominance of sand in the mineral fraction of the soil, while the preservation of labile organic compounds may be associated with low redox potential values and fine soil texture.